Yeah, I wasn’t being hyperbolic when I said that supporting him is a sign of insanity, it literally is. The kind that comes from decades of targeted brainwashing by the party itself as well as the reality-averse far right media echo chamber 😮💨
I think a lot of generally racist people got caught up in the fantasy. He successfully portrayed himself as a lawman - a western Sheriff modeled after Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. Writing wrongs, forming posses… etc. Of course, he didn’t do any actual police work, and tent city is was pretty much a child’s sense of justice. But tons of people collectively ate it up.
I remember having a conversation with someone and him saying proudly that his dad was in the “Sheriff’s Posse” back when Arpaio was still in charge. I was pretty disgusted, but he loved it. Right over his head.
The politics in Maricopa county has luckily shifted, thanks in no small part to a lot of dedicated political organizers getting out the vote to non-traditional voters. Joe still runs for positions - outside candidate for republican senator nomination, mayor of fountain hills… But he doesn’t really have a chance to win. I guess he is too proud to stop. Even his fans - and they are fans, not supporters - just kind of want him to retire at this point. He is in his 90s.
Yeah, I wasn’t being hyperbolic when I said that supporting him is a sign of insanity, it literally is. The kind that comes from decades of targeted brainwashing by the party itself as well as the reality-averse far right media echo chamber 😮💨
I think a lot of generally racist people got caught up in the fantasy. He successfully portrayed himself as a lawman - a western Sheriff modeled after Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. Writing wrongs, forming posses… etc. Of course, he didn’t do any actual police work, and tent city is was pretty much a child’s sense of justice. But tons of people collectively ate it up.
I remember having a conversation with someone and him saying proudly that his dad was in the “Sheriff’s Posse” back when Arpaio was still in charge. I was pretty disgusted, but he loved it. Right over his head.
The politics in Maricopa county has luckily shifted, thanks in no small part to a lot of dedicated political organizers getting out the vote to non-traditional voters. Joe still runs for positions - outside candidate for republican senator nomination, mayor of fountain hills… But he doesn’t really have a chance to win. I guess he is too proud to stop. Even his fans - and they are fans, not supporters - just kind of want him to retire at this point. He is in his 90s.